CULLOWHEE -- Former N.C. Secretary of Commerce Rick Carlisle and AT&T
executive J. Clark Plexico are the newest members of the Western Carolina
University board of trustees.

Carlisle and Plexico were recently appointed by The University of North
Carolina Board of Governors to four-year terms, beginning July 1. They
will be filling seats currently held by Adelaide Daniels Key of Asheville,
co-owner of The Mountaineer Publishing Co. in Waynesville and chair of
the WCU board, and retired Dayco Corp. vice president Sam L. Wiggins of
Waynesville, whose terms expire June 30.

Carlisle, a native of Charlotte now living in Carrboro, served as secretary
of commerce under Gov. Jim Hunt from May 1998 through January 2001, when
he became chief executive officer of the N.C. Economic Opportunity Fund.
He has been involved in state economic development and public policy roles
since 1978.

Plexico is AT&T’s president of law and government affairs for North
and South Carolina. Formerly of Hendersonville and now living in Raleigh,
he was a state senator from 1990 until 1996, representing the 29th senatorial
district and serving as co-chair of the education appropriations committee.

In addition to the appointment of Carlisle and Plexico as new trustees
at WCU, the UNC Board of Governors reappointed Hendersonville businessman
Thomas M. Apodaca and Hickory banking executive Phillip D. Walker to their
second four-year terms.

The UNC Board of Governors elects four trustees for each of the 16 UNC
institutions, and the governor appoints two, every four years. No trustee
may serve more than two full four-year terms consecutively.

Maintained by the WCU Office of Public Relations
Last modified: Friday, June 1, 2001
Copyright 2001 by Western Carolina University